Splinternet Risks

Published: March 22, 2022, 9 p.m.

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The shifting geopolitical economics following Russia\\u2019s invasion of Ukraine has led to the reappearance of the word \\u201cSplinternet\\u201d. In recent years some countries have created the physical infrastructure to potentially run many internet services outside of the reach of the global network of networks most people know as the internet. As sanctions are imposed, popular websites and social networks blocked, and economic lines are drawn, could some countries like Russia and China withdraw completely, developing different protocols of connection within their borders \\u2013 and maybe beyond - that might become incompatible with those of the current internet? Emma Taylor, CEO of Oxford Information Labs, drops into Digital Planet to discuss the fears.

When scientists analyze fallen meteorites they provide invaluable clues about the history of our solar system. Antarctica is a good place to look as they are seldom disturbed, and arguably easier to spot. Yet It is a vast and hard to access area. Could big data and AI provide a guide to help researchers know where to look? Veronica Tollenaar and colleagues at the Glaciology Laboratory at the Universit\\xe9 libre de Bruxelles, in Belgium think so. In a recent paper in the journal Science Advances, Veronica and her colleagues have described their algorithm for constructing a \\u201cwhere to go\\u201d list, rather like a treasure map, to rank the locations most likely to bear the rocky treasure.

Whilst most games are obviously played for fun, many of them sure can feel like unrelenting hard work. Hours spent to \\u201cwin\\u201d trophies or \\u201cearn\\u201d credits, are increasingly \\u201csold\\u201d or transferred between players within these games. Could NFTs transform these sorts of activities into new economic structures? BBC\\u2019s Chris Berrow reports.

Presented by Gareth Mitchell with expert commentary from Ghislaine Boddington.

Technical Production by Giles Aspen\\nProduced by Alex Mansfield

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